Research shows the immunosuppressant drug infliximab—sold under the brand name Remicade—increases the risk of infection by the bacteria Legionella and Listeria, injection site nerve damage, and skin cancer.

You shouldn’t have to go through more trouble to be compensated for the harm you’ve already suffered. The Rottenstein Law Group knows this and we want you to believe it. You need a sympathetic advocate who will represent only your interests—and who will make the process as painless as possible. If you’ve taken Remicade and have been harmed, contact RLG for a free consultation immediately.

Read more

See other lawsuits in:

What Is Remicade and What Is It Prescribed For?

Remicade is the brand name for the drug infliximab. Made and sold by Janssen Biotech, Inc., a subsidiary of health products giant Johnson & Johnson, Inc., this prescription medication is used to treat several autoimmune conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the drug in August 1998. Doctors prescribe it for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (with methotrexate), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque soriasis. It comes in 100 mg vials taken intravenously over a six- to eight-week period.

A member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha blocker (TNF-alpha blocker) class of immunosuppressant drugs, Remicade works by binding to TNF-alpha, a natural cell-signaling molecule that attaches to immune cells. TNF-alpha blockers prevent TNF-alpha from binding with cells because TNF-alpha can cause inflammation in tissues that leads to autoimmune diseases. By inhibiting it, Remicade prevents the autoimmune response.

In September 2011, the FDA issued a Remicade warning in the form of a Drug Safety Communication stating that Remicade, along with other TNF-alpha blockers, increases the risk of infection by the bacteria Legionella and Listeria. The agency updated the drug’s label information to include a “black box” warning to reflect these developments. Black box warnings are the FDA’s most serious alert. Because TNF-alpha blockers reduce the immune system’s ability to fight infections, the body is vulnerable to potentially fatal infections by opportunistic organisms that attack multiple organ systems at once. Examples include:

Now, the FDA is warning the public that the drug leaves the body vulnerable to two other bacteria strains.

Legionella

Legionella bacteria are named for their outbreak at a convention of the American Legion in a hotel in 1976. Members at the convention came down with a fatal pneumonia, which physicians named “Legionnaires’ disease.” They traced the source of the outbreak to bacteria in the hotel’s damp air conditioning system. These are the symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease:

Fever;

Chills;

Dry cough;

Muscle aches;

Headache;

Tiredness;

Loss of appetite;

Loss of coordination;

Diarrhea;

Vomiting;

Confusion;

Impaired cognition;

Low heart rate despite fever;

Renal, liver, and electrolyte disorder; and

Pneumonia.

Legionella infection can also cause a weaker disease called Pontiac fever.

According to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System, between 1999 and 2010, about 80 patients developed Legionella infections after using a TNF-alpha blocker. Most were using the drug for rheumatoid arthritis. Many of the 80 patients were also taking methotrexate, corticosteroids, or both, with Remicade. Fourteen of the 80 patients died.

Listeriosis

The Listeria genus of bacteria is named after British scientist and developer of antiseptics Joseph Lister. Listeria infections, called “listeriosis,” last seven to ten days and have the following symptoms:

The FDA identified 26 cases in English language medical publications of TNF-alpha blocker users coming down with listerioris. These infections resulted in meningitis, bacteremia, endophthalmitis, and sepsis. As with the Legionella­-infected patients, many Listeria-infected patients were also using other immunosuppressive drugs. Seven patients died of their infections.

Remicade Might Cause Injection Site Nerve Damage

On November 19, 2013, Law360 reported that an Indiana couple sued Janssen Biotech, Inc., alleging Remicade caused the wife to suffer nerve damage to the injection site. The case was filed in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. According to a study produced by the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the FDA had received 17 adverse event reports from Remicade users suffering from nerve fiber demylination.

Remicade Might Cause Skin Cancer

On November 6, 2013, the FDA updated Remicade’s drug label to include an entry for skin cancer due to post-marketing reports from users who developed the condition. The aforementioned ISMP report discovered 110 adverse event reports from Remicade users who developed skin cancer. The FDA’s warning notes that skin cancer tended to develop in children, adolescents, and young adults on Remicade as opposed to older people.

RLG’s Remicade Lawyers Will Make Things Easier

The process of demanding compensation for the harm you’ve suffered can be complicated, even if it doesn’t seem fair that you should have to go through even more trouble to be made whole again. The Remicade lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group believe that obtaining legal satisfaction from those who harmed you shouldn’t require more hardship. That’s why we do everything we can to streamline the process, and we will file a Remicade lawsuit on your behalf if necessary. RLG will also keep you up to date on any Remicade class action lawsuits, FDA Remicade warnings, and Remicade FDA recall announcements. If you have taken Remicade and believe it harmed you, contact RLG today.

Please note: Comments are encouraged in order to permit visitors to discuss relevant topics. Comments are moderated and might be edited by RLG before being published.

Comments should not be used to ask questions of RLG’s lawyers; if you want to speak with a lawyer, please fill out this contact form or call 1 (888) 976-8529. *Your name and email address will not be published.

RLG encourages you to reproduce our original content—on your own web site; in emails to your friends and family; in blogs, posts, and tweets, etc.—but we ask that you please attribute whatever you use to us, and, whenever possible, provide a link to the page where you first found the material. That way, whoever reads your excerpt might read more informative material of interest at one of RLG's sites.

FREE Claim Evaluation

Call toll free:
1 (888) 976-8529

Or complete this form to have RLG review your case promptly and contact you to confidentially discuss the process of seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

First Name:*

Last Name:*

Phone:*

Email:

Tell us your story:

By submitting this form, you give RLG permission to contact you privately. Privacy policy.

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sitemap:

Visit Us On:

Call Today:

Disclaimer: Please note that you are not considered a client until you have signed a retainer agreement and your case has been accepted by us. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. The information contained on this Web site is not medical advice and is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it a substitute for seeking appropriate medical, or other professional advice. Please discuss any health or other concerns with your doctor or other healthcare professional. No recommendation or endorsement of RLG is implied by reference to any newspaper or television or radio station.

This Web site may constitute “Attorney Advertising” under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct and under the law of other jurisdictions. Your use of our Web site or its facilities constitutes your acceptance of the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.